| 9 mins read
"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot, and the wind blows cold when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade."
– Charles Dickens
While we are tucked within our blankets, sipping the hottest coffee and witnessing the dance of snowfall, our hearts, as much as they might love the winter charm, long to pack our bags and bask in the soft sun! And while you are already passing your winter break inside, it is also the right time to plan for your upcoming spring break. Imagine a few months from now sunbathing on a Caribbean island, strolling through the pleasant weather of the Mediterranean, or exploring the ancient European streets lined with beautiful tulips!
Interestingly, the added advantage of spring is that there are fewer crowds, allowing one to live a more immersive experience! With the help of our local guides, we curated a list of some of the best Spring Break Vacations, and we are now back again with more! In this article, we bring you an updated list of the top 5 spring destinations from around the world for this year that have often ranked best among travellers.
Alaska
Summer in Alaska is peak season, and winter allows adventure sports and seeing the Aurora Borealis, but what about spring? Well, visiting Alaska during spring is also a great experience in itself, specifically because the months from March to May are the only time to witness the migration of Gray Whales to the Alaskan seas as they return to their summer feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. Take a day cruise from Seward, and you can literally follow the whales through the Gulf of Alaska! Who knows- you might even get to catch a glimpse of the humpback whales arriving back in Alaska starting in April.
Spring is also the season during which Alaskan landscapes transition from snow to lush greenery. It is a perfect time for enjoying snow sports like skiing (downhill and cross country), snowshoeing, fat tyre biking, dog sledging, and snow machining, which is made even more brilliant with spring sunshine bouncing off the snow. For a little RnR, enjoy soaking away your pains at the hot springs and healing waters of Alaska, the most popular of which is the Chena Hot Springs outside of Fairbanks, a prime destination for locals and visitors for over 100 years!
Apart from the natural charm, Spring is also a season of festivals in Alaska. Alaska’s spring birding festivals allow for the best birding experiences, including lectures and guided expeditions. The Fairbanks Festival of Native Arts (held in late February/early March) is also a unique sight where indigenous performers from Alaska gather to share their culture through music and dance. Other festivals to look out for are the World Ice Art Championships (one of the largest ice carving competitions in the world) and the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, with a ceremonial starting in downtown Anchorage on the first Saturday in March and an official start the next day in Willow. Moreover, for some wild and wacky fun, head to Girdwood on the third weekend in April for their annual Spring Carnival, whose main event is Slush Cup, where skiers and snowboarders in dazzling costumes speed down the mountain to try (and mostly fail) to jump over the cold, slushy pond at the base. The non-pond-jumpers can enjoy live music, a mountain bike race, and some light spring skiing.
Additionally, a key advantage that needs to be mentioned is that visiting Alaska in spring will not go heavy on your pocket (with most amenities being cheaper during the season). Moreover, fewer people visit the place, which will make you feel like you have more of Alaska to yourself, away from the general crowds!
Worried about missing the Northern Lights? Do not fret; Alaska's Northern Lights viewing season runs through April!
Croatia
Croatia has a typical Mediterranean climate along its coastline, so for those who prefer milder weather, spring is the ideal time to head to this action-packed, beautiful, and historic country. The country boasts the beautiful destinations of Dubrovnik, Pula, Split, and Hvar Island, where each place will enchant you in its own way! Šulekova Street in Zagreb garners the most attention of visitors, especially during spring, with its colourful streets and blossoming flowers, perfect for strolling through the cherry trees. It is suggested that having a local guide is essential as finding scenic and private accommodation during this season can get tricky.
While discovering Croatia, it is impossible not to highlight Croatia's national and natural parks, which display a breathtaking transformation of seasons. Remember to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park or Krka National Park to see spring blooming at its best! Krka is also a popular destination for adventure lovers who want to go hiking or cycling around the national parks. If you seek to see all the natural wonders in one place, then travel to Osijek, the fourth-largest city in the country, which is famously known as the greenest city in Croatia. Some of the parks that cannot be missed are King Tomislav Park, Sakuntala Park, and King Krešimir IV Park, protected as the first monument of park architecture in Croatia.
Moreover, for an off-beat experience, enjoy a guided tour to Rovinj, an archipelago made of 20 small islands. It is an architectural masterpiece, showcasing stairways, cobblestone paths, and arches, and makes for an excellent place for isolated camping experiences. With pleasant weather, vibrant colours, fewer crowds, and lower prices, spring in Croatia will surely be spectacular!
India
Spring in India is the most comfortable season for travel, with pleasant temperatures and lush green scenery. Every part of India has something to offer during this season, be it a relaxing trek among the mountains, an expedition to spot wildlife, a relaxing stay in cottages, or partying on sunny beaches. The states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Kashmir in North India host a plethora of hikes, treks, and gorgeous places to stay, with the Valley of Flowers and Dayara Bugyal treks being the best Himalayan treks for the season, as flowers start blooming against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. In the central part, a must-visit is the Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, where hundreds of different species of flowers bloom all around the tiger reserve to give it a magical feel.
For those seeking a southern excursion, places like Coonor in Tamil Nadu, Wayanad in Kerala, the “Malnad region” (literally meaning the region of hills and showers) in Karnataka, and many regions in lower Maharashtra offer smaller hiking trails and endless arrays of homestays in pristine, isolated places. South India is also renowned for its exquisite food and stunning temples, examples of architectural marvels. From Meenakshi Temple in Tamil Nadu to the Virupaksha Temple in Hampi, a UNESCO Heritage Site, the temples of South India are unmissable experiences. The cuisine of the region is a journey in itself, with the vibrant rice crepe, the masala dosa, the fluffy idli, and the flavorful sambar stew. Taste the fiery Andhra curries, aromatic Hyderabadi biryani, and tender Chettinad stews. Finish with the sweetness of Mysore pak or the tangy crunch of papads.
The state of Goa presents an opportunity like no other for travellers arriving near the springtime festival with its great music and party. For nature enthusiasts, one of the best experiences in Goa is a hike to Dudhsagar Falls, which requires a local hiking guide to take you through less travelled trails, train tracks, and tunnels to reach the majestic falls.
To the east, Arunachal and Meghalaya offer views of untouched valleys and deep forests primed for a good camping experience. Ziro Valley is an especially sought-after destination as it offers people the opportunity to explore stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage together. This beautiful valley is home to the Apatani tribe, world-renowned for their sustainable way of living practices and intricate handloom designs.
Japan
One of the most popular phenomena to witness in spring is, undoubtedly, the ‘hanami’ or cherry blossom viewing in Japan, and for a good reason. The beautiful pink blossoms around many cities in Japan are picture-perfect, and you can walk, cycle, and picnic under the cherry blossoms for a fantastic time. While March to mid-April is the prime time for cherry blossoms, its less-appreciated sibling, the plum blossoms, start around mid-February and are best viewed during March. Bunkyo, Setagawa, and Ome are some of the best spots for plum blossom viewing, while Tokyo, Osaka, and Okayama are prime hanami spots.
To add a little spice to the hanami, plan with your local guide for a hike on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. Locally known as the Roof of Japan, this route is carved from an 18-meter-high snow wall from Toyama City to Omachi City in Hokkaido. April is the optimal time to take this route, as the snow corridor only runs from April to June. Additionally, for a spirited immersion into the Japanese culture, attend the Hana Matsuri Festival, celebrated on May 26, and the Kanda Matsuri, held during odd-numbered years. Hana Matsuri is dedicated to the birth of the founding figure of Buddhism, and Kanda Matsuri is known for its parades of palanquins, musicians, and dancers.
Italy
The ‘Primavera’, as the spring season is called in Italy, is from March to May, bringing out the beauty and colour of the country in a beautiful way. With the weather warm enough for sandals and dresses but cool enough for comfort, spring is one of Italy's best times for sightseeing around the gardens and lakes in the country, with the popular ones being Florence’s famous Iris Garden, located near Piazzale Michelangelo, which is open only from April 25 to May 20, and Rome’s Rose Garden, near Circus Maximus, open only in May and June.
Additionally, travel to the lakes Como, Garda, and Maggiore during spring to enjoy the vibrancy of colours both in nature and culture. Like every other country, Italy also hosts a plethora of festivals during this season. Some of the popular ones are the Mandorla in Fiore (almonds in bloom) festival in Sicily and the Calendimaggio in the town of Assisi. Easter, one of the most important holidays in Italy, combined with nature’s summer glory, presents many picture-perfect opportunities where travellers get to feel the beauty of nature and culture at the same time. However, a local guide is instrumental in ascertaining the dates and best places to cover to immerse yourself in the joyful crowds.